PETER E. NEWELL
Who was Zapata? Man, myth, inspiration or movie icon? Zapata was the leading figure of the Mexican Revolution of 1910. He fought for the rights of local communities against greedy landlords, treacherous politicians and foreign-owned companies. Under the slogan 'Land and Liberty!' he became the purest embodiment of the Mexican Revolution. Zapata's memory, like his ghost, rides on in Mexico. His name has been invoked by the indigenous rebel army in Chiapas, the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN), in their struggle against exactly the same social ills that Zapata fought against. The Zapatistas of today take their inspiration from his life and struggle. It's the same struggle all over the world. We're all Zapatistas!
